TRAINING ENSURANCE METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COPMUTER DIRECTED ASSEMBLY AND MANUFACTURING
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for ensuring assemblers are properly trained before performing assembly instructions in a computer directed assembly system. To ensure the requisite training, in some embodiments, the training history of each assembler is checked before authorizing performance of an assembly instruction. In one embodiment, a prerequisite training sequence required to be completed before performing an assembly instruction is specified to ensure proper training of the assembler. In some embodiments, a training history associated with the assembler is requested from a training database that includes a set of training sequences previously performed by the assembler. Based on the training history and other factors, a determination is made whether the assembler has the prerequisite training sequence necessary to perform the assembly instruction. As necessary, the assembler is required to perform the prerequisite training sequence before being authorized to perform the assembly instruction.
1 . A computer-implemented method of ensuring an assembler is properly trained to perform an assembly instruction in a computer directed assembly system used in manufacturing, the method comprising:
specifying a prerequisite training sequence required to be completed before performing an assembly instruction presented through a user interface of a computer device;
requesting a training history associated with the assembler from a training database that includes a set of training sequences previously performed by the assembler;
determining whether the training history associated with the assembler includes the prerequisite training sequence as specified; and
requiring that the assembler perform the prerequisite training sequence if the assembler's training history is determined to not already have the prerequisite training sequence.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein requiring that the assembler perform the prerequisite training sequence comprises:
incorporating the prerequisite training into the training history for the assembler held in the training database.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the prerequisite training sequence is identical to a sequence of actions for the assembly instruction.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the prerequisite training sequence is satisfied with a task that is similar to a sequence of actions for the assembly instruction.
5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
authorizing the assembler to perform the assembly instruction displayed on the user interface.
6 . The method of claim 5 further comprising:
guiding the assembler to combine materials from a pocket of a matrix tray with a component.
7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
requiring that the assembler perform the prerequisite training sequence if the prerequisite training sequence in the assembler's training history exceeds a predetermined time interval.
8 . A computer program product for ensuring an assembler is properly trained to perform an assembly instruction in a computer directed assembly system used in manufacturing, tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:
specify a prerequisite training sequence required to be completed before performing an assembly instruction presented through a user interface of a computer device;
request a training history associated with the assembler from a training database that includes a set of training sequences previously performed by the assembler;
determine whether the training history associated with the assembler includes a prerequisite training sequence as specified; and
require that the assembler perform the prerequisite training sequence if the assembler's training history is determined to not already have the prerequisite training sequence.
9 . The computer program product of claim 8 wherein instructions that require the assembler perform the prerequisite training sequence comprise instructions operable to cause the programmable processor to:
incorporate the prerequisite training into the training history for the assembler held in the training database.
10 . The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the prerequisite training sequence is identical to the to a sequence of actions for the specified assembly instruction.
11 . The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the prerequisite training sequence is satisfied with a task that is similar to a sequence of actions for the assembly instruction.
12 . The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising instructions operable to cause the programmable processor to,
authorize the assembler to perform the assembly instruction displayed on the user interface.
13 . The computer program product of claim 12 further comprising instructions operable to cause the programmable processor to:
guide the assembler to combine materials from a pocket of a matrix tray with a component.
14 . An apparatus for ensuring an assembler is properly trained to perform an assembly instruction from a computer directed assembly system used in manufacturing, the apparatus comprising:
a processor capable of executing instructions; and
a memory holding instructions that when executed by the processor causes the processor to:
specify a prerequisite training sequence required to be completed before performing an assembly instruction presented through a user interface of a computer device;
request a training history associated with the assembler from a training database that includes a set of training sequences previously performed by the assembler;
determine whether the training history associated with the assembler includes the prerequisite training sequence as specified; and
require that the assembler perform the prerequisite training sequence if the assemblers training history is determined to not already have the prerequisite training sequence.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein instructions that require the assembler perform the prerequisite training sequence comprise instructions that when executed by the processor causes the processor to:
incorporate the prerequisite training into the training history for the assembler held in the training database.
16 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the prerequisite training sequence is identical to a sequence of actions for the assembly instruction.
17 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the prerequisite training sequence is satisfied with a task that is similar to a sequence of actions for the assembly instruction.
18 . The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising instructions operable to causes the programmable processor to:
authorize the assembler to perform the assembly instruction displayed on the user interface.
19 . The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising instructions operable to causes the programmable processor to:
guide the assembler to combine materials from a pocket of a matrix tray with a component.